Today, he has boutiques all over the world -- London, Milan, Paris and Tokyo -- and has just tied up with the luxury goods house Van Dome to open up 20 new stores, in Europe, shortly. Regulars at his stores include Margaret Thatcher, Sonia Gandhi and President Nelson Mandela.

Flushed with his success abroad, Chawla is now looking at expanding his base in India. This Wednesday, he opened his third store in the city, at the Taj. Nineteen years after he opened his first store in Kemp's Corner. At that time, Ravissant concentrated on avant garde sarees -- without borders or pallus -- and kameezes. This time however theboutique includes his silver collection and home furnishings. The selection ranges from cutlery, dinner service sets and vases to bedspreads and cushions made of naturally woven and dyed fabrics.

Ravissant's new boutique also introduces a leather goods line that is finished with sterling silver trimmings. The collection has desk sets, ashtrays and even cigar holders. Not enough expansion? Not for Chawla. He has set his sights on opening another boutique -- this time at the Oberoi -- by the end of the year, to display his leather and silver lines. "I would like to bring to Mumbai the precious jewellery I am doing in Delhi. And perhaps open a store in the suburbs as well."

Though 70 per cent of his turnover still comes from exports, Ravi feels the domestic market is ripe for expansion. Which explains his sudden burst of energy. "The market is now ready for high-priced luxury goods. The customer wants quality." And Ravi is their man with his strong brand name in that segment. His goods certainly bear a heftyprice tag: a leather-and-silver cardcase costs Rs 2,400, a vase about Rs 8,000 and even a cushion cover sets you back by Rs 1,000.

But Ravi is an obvious worshipper at the shrine of luxury. Two years ago, he brought Cartier to the city when he opened an exclusive Cartier boutique in the new Oberoi lobby. "We are now going to open a Cartier store in Delhi too. At first it was just the watches that people were interested in but now the jewellery has picked up." Later this year, he hopes to bring Alfred Dunhill, the well-known designer label for men's garments and accessories, to India. But even after all these years, couture remains his first love.

"I still get a buzz when I see a women wearing a Ravissant outfit. And I know each design that we do. Even though I am not a designer I am very involved in the design process."

Which is why his next project is to bring another export range back to India. Says Ravi, "I do some European young fashion wear too. And next year I am thinking of selling it here." Fora hefty price, naturally. But that's part and parcel of the Chawla deal.